The Ereri Project!

Fireworks (Independance Day)

"Petra~, wake up, we're here."

The five year old bolts up from her car seat. "Really?" she asks excitedly.

Eren smiles and nods as he helps her out of the car. She dutifully holds his hand even while she bounces on the balls of her feet because it's dark out and Daddy says it's especially easy to get lost in the dark.

She glances around. "Where's Daddy?"

"Uncle Erwin was carrying something for us in his car so he went to go get it."

"Is it a present?"

"If the gift of not being eaten by bugs is a present, then yes."

She giggles. "Oh Papa."

Levi comes back with a can of bug spray. "Okay Petra," he says, uncapping a can. "Stand like you're doing a jumping jack, close your eyes, and hold your breath."

She does and a sprays her quickly from head to toe on her front and then her back. "This stuff feels sticky," she whines.

"Sorry kiddo," Levi replies. "You need to wear it so the mosquitoes don't get you."

Levi sprays Eren next. "She's right, it does feel sticky," Eren says.

Levi makes a face at him. "You're too old to complain this stuff."

Levi throws both cans in a bag he packed with a blanket and snacks. "Don't you need me to spray you too?" Eren asks as they start walking to find a place to sit.

"Erwin got me back at his car," Levi replies. "He said Hanji's bringing folding chairs, by the way, which is why he's lagging behind. He wanted to help her carry them."

"I'm sure he and Moblit will probably be doing all the work anyway."

"Exactly," Levi replies. "That poor man needs a break."

When Levi spreads out the blanket, Petra claims her spot immediately, laying down to look at the stars while they wait.

The Fourth of July fireworks display for their town this year is at the biggest local park, so naturally there are tons of people roaming around, Eren is almost surprised he recognizes so many faces from people who come to his bakery.

Eren and Levi both sit down as they continue talking, Petra occupying herself trying to pick out constellations Armin told her about before. "Hey Daddy?" she asks suddenly.

"Yeah hazelnut?"

"What are stars?"

Levi looks at Eren and then back at their daughter. "Uhh," he begins. "You're looking at them."

"I know," she says. "But what are they?"

"Well," Eren says. "They're made of the same stuff as the sun, they're just smaller so they aren't nearly as bright."

"Oh," she says, through by the sound of it she was hoping for something more magical.

Levi smiles and twirls her ponytail absently. "What did you think they were?" he asks.

"I was hoping they were really fireflies like in The Princess and the Frog."

"Well some of them might be," Eren says, looking up as well. "You never really know."

Levi is busy watching the two of them when he hears Hanji running up behind them. "HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!" she shouts, landing on her knees on Levi's blanket.

"Hi Auntie Hanji!" Petra says, getting up to hug her.

Erwin and Moblit are indeed carrying all five chairs and a bag with drinks for everyone. "Uncle Erwin!" Petra shouts even more excitedly and bounces on the edge of the blanket because she knows better than to run off.

When Erwin finally puts his things down, she launches herself at him and he picks her up to hug her. "Hey Petra," he says. "How are you?"

"Excellent," she replies.

"Good word, kid."

Everyone turns to see it was Armin who spoke, walking up with Mikasa. Petra grins and makes grabby hands to hug the newcomers.

When everyone is settled, Eren and Mikasa elect to sit on the blanket in light of the shortage of chairs, Levi complains that he should be sitting on the ground and Eren should have a chair but the argument ended quickly.

Petra flip-flops around on whose lap she wants to sit on, based on who she feels like talking to, Eren had to laugh at the look on Hanji's face when Petra sat with Moblit longer than her.

As the show starts, Hanji complains that they should've let her do the fireworks because hers always look better, and Petra moves back to sit with Levi.

She's still kind of afraid of loud noises so she's much more comfortable knowing her Daddy's there to protect her.

Eren smiles and her and lets her hold his hand because she's also worried about her Papa not being safe sitting on the ground.

Despite her fears, Petra is sad when the fireworks are over.

She helps Armin carry their trash to a garbage bin before asking Erwin to carry her on his shoulders back to the parking lot. She yawns in the middle of their goodbyes since it's way past her bedtime by now.

Eren buckles her in the car before getting in the driver's seat. Levi only had one beer while they were waiting for the show but he told Eren to drive because he doesn't like taking chances.

Petra falls asleep when they're only halfway home and Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift comes on the radio. Eren tries not to laugh at the face Levi makes at the lyrics in the song.

It's always fun nights like these that make him wish his baby girl never has to grow up, and it's sad songs like these that remind him she'll definitely have to at some point.

Eren likes to think even when Petra does grow up, she'll still like sitting with her Daddy when she feels scared. He doesn't tell Levi, though, he's positive he'd cry if he did.

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A/N: Hey guys! If you like Creepy Pasta I posted a book of their Origins... Check it out if you'd like to!